By Jackie Burrell
Thursday, January 20th, 2011 at 5:24 am in Uncategorized.

Between the foreign languages and multiple-hour length, opera can be an intimidating thing for a newbie, especially when that first-timer is, say, six. So the San Francisco Opera launched a series of special, shorter, kid-friendly productions — first “The Magic Flute for Families” and then “The Elixir of Love.” Then they trumped that brilliant idea by turning the operas into movies, suitable for ages 4-12 (plus doting parents or grandparents). Now, families can catch the sheer, operatic spectacle of Donizetti’s “Elixir of Love – For Families” — set at a Napa Valley country fair in 1915 and sung in English — on the Herbst Theater’s silver screen at 11 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m. on Jan. 23 and 30. Tickets are free, but you’ll need to register.